By the end of a Master’s degree in History, students will have developed:

1. Historical mindedness: Attain mastery of a deep, discerning appreciation of the complexities of human experience around the world, from past to present. Develop advanced knowledge of historiography and historical methods.

2. Experience in information management: Find, filter, contextualize, and independently engage with a large body of print, digital, and/or audiovisual materials pertinent to a comprehensive study of change over time. Through researching and writing assignments of varied lengths, the Master’s student will excel at the collection and analysis of both historical primary sources and scholarly material.

3. Effective analytical abilities and practices: Engage with, interpret and evaluate complex historical evidence as well as advanced theoretical, conceptual, and ideological perspectives. The student will demonstrate the ability to formulate an original research project, identify pertinent sources, and undertake a thorough, efficient, and even-handed examination of those sources within the context of the scholarly literature in the field.

4. Skills and habits of mind valued beyond the classroom: Acquire advanced capabilities in disciplined reading, writing, research, and oral communication skills essential to the independent and collaborative tasks required in varied professional and community settings.

5. Active and empathetic citizenship: Practice advanced historical thinking and awareness of different times, cultures and polities as instruments of responsible engagement with the world today. Evaluate and comment critically on the contemporary use of history in the media and in economic and political discourse. Provide context and interpretations to further public discussion of issues and debates.

By the end of a PhD in History, students will have developed:

1. Historical mindedness: Attain mastery of a deep, discerning appreciation of the complexities of human experience around the world, from past to present. .

2. Experience in information management: Find, filter, contextualize, preserve, and independently engage with a large body of print, digital, and/or audiovisual materials pertinent to a comprehensive examination of change over time. Through researching and writing assignments of substantial length, the PhD student will master the collection and analysis of both historical primary sources and scholarly material.

3. Effective analytical abilities and practices: Engage with, interpret and evaluate complex historical evidence as well as advanced theoretical, conceptual, and ideological perspectives. Generate original conceptual or interpretive perspectives from independent research. Through the successful completion of a PhD thesis, the student will demonstrate the ability to formulate an original research project, identify a large variety of historical sources, and undertake a sustained and meticulous examination of those sources within the context of the existing scholarly literature in the field. Make an original contribution to the available knowledge of a specific area of historical study.

4. Postsecondary teaching acumen: Demonstrate preparedness to teach introductory, intermediate, and advanced postsecondary courses through the successful completion of three comprehensive field exams, based on a mastery of 45 books (or equivalent) per field.

5. Skills and habits of mind valued beyond the classroom: Acquire advanced skills in disciplined reading, writing, research, and oral communication essential to the independent and collaborative tasks required in varied professional settings. Through coursework and the successful defense of a PhD prospectus and thesis, and through speaking at academic conferences and talks, the student will demonstrate the capacity to arrive at independent conclusions through verbal discussion.

6. Active and empathetic citizenship: Practice advanced historical thinking and awareness of different times, cultures and polities as instruments of responsible engagement with the world today. Evaluate and comment critically on the contemporary use of history in the media and in economic and political discourse. Provide context and interpretations to further public discussion of issues and debates.